Frequently Asked Questions
How many hospitals does PlainHospital cover?
PlainHospital covers 5,426 Medicare-certified hospitals in the United States. Coverage is limited to hospitals that participate in Medicare and submit data to CMS. Private hospitals that do not accept Medicare are not included.
What does a hospital star rating mean?
CMS assigns overall star ratings from 1 to 5 stars based on a composite of quality measures across five groups: mortality rates, safety of care, readmission rates, patient experience (HCAHPS survey), and timely and effective care. 5-star hospitals score better than average across these measures; 1-star hospitals score below average. Not all hospitals receive a star rating due to insufficient data.
What is the HCAHPS survey?
HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) is a standardized survey administered to randomly selected adult patients 48 hours to 6 weeks after a hospital discharge. It measures patient experience on dimensions like nurse communication, doctor communication, staff responsiveness, hospital cleanliness, hospital quietness, and overall hospital rating.
What is a Standardized Infection Ratio (SIR)?
An SIR compares the number of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) observed at a hospital to the number predicted based on national data for comparable hospitals. An SIR below 1.0 means fewer infections than predicted (better than expected); above 1.0 means more infections than predicted (worse than expected). CMS tracks HAIs including central line infections, surgical site infections, and C. diff.
Why doesn't my local hospital have a star rating?
Hospitals must have sufficient data across multiple quality measures to receive a star rating. Small hospitals, specialty hospitals, or recently opened hospitals may not have enough cases in all measure categories for CMS to calculate a valid composite score.
Should I only go to 5-star hospitals?
Not necessarily. Star ratings reflect average quality across many types of care. The best hospital for your specific condition may be a specialty center that doesn't receive a high overall star rating. For specific procedures (cardiac surgery, cancer care, stroke), look for hospitals with high volumes and specialized accreditations for that procedure.
Is PlainHospital affiliated with CMS?
No. PlainHospital is not affiliated with CMS or any government agency. We present publicly available CMS Hospital Compare data in a more accessible format. This site does not provide medical advice.